Koozie Group (PPAI 114187, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 11 supplier, has announced that Carly Jaeger has been promoted to the role of national account manager.

Jaeger joined Koozie Group in 2015 as a regional account manager.

“With her strong track record and consistently positive attitude, we are thrilled to have Carly join the national account team,” says Trish Daly, vice president of sales at Koozie Group. “I know she’ll bring that same energy and success to her new role.”

Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 14 supplier, has announced its preferred decorator partnership with Fossa Apparel (PPAI 330885, Silver), PPAI 100’s No. 60 supplier.

Through this partnership, distributors can place orders directly with Fossa Apparel and enjoy free shipping to any of Vantage’s three U.S. decoration facilities on orders of $150+, or 6+ pieces.

• Orders can be routed seamlessly to Vantage’s strategically located facilities in Avenel, New Jersey; St. Louis; or Santa Ana, California.

“With our national contract decoration footprint, Vantage is uniquely positioned to support large, complex apparel programs that demand scale, premium quality and quick turn services,” says Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage Apparel. “Our partnership with Fossa Apparel reinforces our commitment to making decoration easier, faster and more reliable for distributors.”

“Partnering with Vantage marks an exciting step forward for Fossa Apparel,” adds Michelle Chen, president and co-founder of Fossa Apparel. “As our brand continues to grow, having a logistics and decoration partner with Vantage’s scale, precision and national reach allows us to move faster and deliver a more seamless experience for our customers.”

commonsku (PPAI 552077) has announced the appointment of Maria Acquarola as outside sales director.

Acquarola joins commonsku from Pop! Promos, where she started as a sales support team member in 2018 and advanced through progressively senior roles – junior account executive, account executive and director of strategic accounts.

“Maria’s career trajectory speaks for itself, rising from sales support to director of strategic accounts at one of the industry’s most innovative suppliers shows the kind of drive and relationship-building instinct we value at commonsku,” says Mark Graham, president of commonsku. “She knows this industry inside and out, and her deep connections with distributors across the country make her the ideal person to lead our outside sales efforts as we continue to grow.”

Logomark (PPAI 110898, Platinum), PPAI 100’s No. 12 supplier and a Red Star Sponsor of the “Shelter to Soldier” program, is excited to welcome its newest four-legged hero to the family.

To celebrate the arrival of its newest sponsored pup, Logomark hosted a naming contest that drew an overwhelming response from distributors nationwide. After votes were cast, Amy Chernow of PPL Promotions in Pennsylvania was announced as the winner with the name Cooper.

The Logomark team agreed that Cooper is a perfect fit for the 1½-year-old yellow labrador mix. He was rescued by Labs and More Rescue from Animal Friends of the Valley in Wildomar, California, where he had been brought in as a stray.

“Cooper is a big, goofy boy who is a textbook lab – food motivated and happy to train,” says Kyrie Bloem, co-founder of Shelter to Soldier. “He loves people and wants to carry a toy everywhere he goes. He also loves to be picked up (which, at 90 pounds, is a bit difficult). We’re really excited to see how he progresses!”

Cooper has now begun his journey toward becoming a psychiatric service dog for a post-9/11 veteran living with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma.

As a Red Star Sponsor, Logomark helps fund the adoption, care, training, and placement of service dogs like Cooper, who now becomes the 12th dog welcomed into the Shelter to Soldier program through Logomark’s support. A portion of proceeds from Logomark’s Perka, iCool and Work collections are donated to Shelter to Soldier.

Thumbprint (PPAI 638974, Gold) has announced its 2026 Annual Award Winners at its Award Dinner, the culminating celebration of the company’s three-day, in-person, all-team meeting, Fusion 26, held in Indianapolis.

Sixty-three Thumbprint team members gathered in the company’s home city for three days of team building, strategic goal setting, accountability discussions and organizational alignment.

Award recipients were selected through peer nominations from Thumbprint’s 98 full-time and part-time team members located around the globe.

The 2026 Annual Award Winners are:

• Spirit of Fusion: Cameron Cook
• Rookie of the Year: Patrick “Promo P” Moyer
• Top Producer: Katie Siegel and Team Peaches
• Outstanding Service Professional: Rhiannon Strickfuss
• The Thumbprint Way Award: Ryan Coleman
• Greg Gill Merch Maker of the Year (Thumbprint’s highest honor): Jamie Fredrickson

“Fusion 26 was about clarity, accountability and celebrating the people who make our mission possible,” says Tom Rector, CEO of Thumbprint. “These award winners represent what happens when talent, heart and ownership come together in service of our customers.”

Grossman Marketing Group (PPAI 281988, Gold) announced that it has earned a Gold rating from EcoVadis, placing the company among the top 5% of organizations assessed globally by the sustainability platform.

The rating recognizes GMG’s performance across environmental, social and ethical standards and reflects the company’s ongoing investment in responsible business practices, including its SwagCycle landfill-diversion initiative.

“Sustainability has been part of our operating philosophy for many years,” says Ben Grossman, co-president of Grossman Marketing Group. “Earning EcoVadis Gold validates the progress our team has made in strengthening our environmental practices, responsible procurement standards and fair labor expectations throughout our supply chain. We’re proud of the recognition, and we also know there is meaningful opportunity to improve and continue raising our standards.”

Imperial (PPAI 133496, Standard-Plus) has appointed Jane Smith as vice president of marketing, effective January 5.

A 25-plus-year veteran of the marketing industry, she joins Imperial from Wolverine Worldwide, where she most recently served as vice president of marketing and digital media for Merrell and Chaco, leading global marketing and growth strategy for an $870 million brand portfolio.

“Jane brings the strategic rigor, digital expertise and brand leadership that align perfectly with Imperial’s growth priorities,” says Jeremy Davis, CEO at Imperial. “Her experience scaling global brands will be instrumental as we continue to expand our market presence and elevate the Imperial brand.”